When a dog chews on everything

Dogs use their teeth to do everything that we do with their hands - including exploring the world around them. This means that they try to gnaw or chew anything that is of interest to them. Unfortunately, in some cases, this behavior becomes a problem, as the dog destroys everything around it.

Why are they doing this?

Most puppies start chewing on things when their teeth are teething. As they grow up, they begin to chew on toys during play, or other things out of boredom or following instinct. Your dog may start chewing on things in unfamiliar surroundings due to separation anxiety. Identifying the cause of this behavior is key to preventing it.

If your dog chews on everything in the house, regardless of whether you are nearby or not, it may be due to boredom. She probably needs more play, exercise and activity to expend excess energy. Purchase special toys to help keep your dog from chewing on things.

Teething

If your puppy is teething, you just have to wait until the process is complete. If possible, it's best to redirect your puppy's efforts in a different direction. Try making frozen treats like ice cream on a stick or putting some toys in the freezer before giving them to your dog. This will not only create an attractive texture for the dog but also soften the sensation of teething.

Some dogs chew on things due to separation anxiety. They may chew or scratch things while trying to get out of the place where they were left alone. This behavior can also be a reaction of the dog's nervous system to your absence. This is probably the most difficult situation as it is based on anxiety that needs to be addressed. Animal behavior specialists use socialization, addiction reduction, and containment techniques to correct separation anxiety.

Everything needs to be done on time

The only way to stop your dog from chewing on things is to catch him "in the act." If you find a shoe that was damaged by a dog within an hour after he "worked" on it, the dog will not be able to correlate the received punishment with what he did. The dog may look "guilty" when you show him a spoiled thing, but this is just a manifestation of subordinate behavior. But if you find the dog at the moment when it is chewing on something, be sure to stop it with some command or with a loud voice. If she obeys you and leaves the thing alone, give her a special toy. If your dog chews on a toy, be sure to praise him.

In most cases, you should help the dog to direct the chewing force to the appropriate objects. The first step is to choose the right toys for your dog to chew on. Never choose toys that look like your dog shouldn't chew. If you give her old shoes or clothes, the dog will not be able to tell the difference between them and new shoes and clothes.

There are special sprays that can be applied to various things to prevent the dog from chewing them. These foods have a taste or odor that is unpleasant to the dog but imperceptible to humans.

As always, you should consult your veterinarian. He will be able to give you valuable advice on how to correct this behavior.